Area News
Comptroller Huffines Expands Government Fraud Reporting Access for State Employe
October 23, 2026 (AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Don Huffines today announced an unprecedented expansion of his agency’s whistleblower government fraud reporting resources for state employees, adding a dedicated government fraud reporting button to the front page of the statewide Centralized Accounting and Payroll/Personnel System (CAPPS) portal. The prominently placed button will appear for every state employee…
Read MoreTrump Administration Announces $5 Billion SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to Expand Processing for American Ranchers and Fishermen
(Washington, D.C., October 23, 2026) – Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the launch of the America First Seafood Strategy (PDF, 8.5 MB) and several actions the Trump Administration is taking to support the American seafood industry. Among these actions is the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making at least $5…
Read MoreKen Paxton Says He’s Tough on Crime. His Trust Invested $600,000 in a Convicted Fraudster’s Company.
The blind trust’s investment in Wildcatter offers a new, unreported look at the attorney general’s financial ties with the very type of business executives whose prosecutions he typically celebrates. by Alexandra Glorioso, Jeremy Schwartz, Misty Harris and Zach Despart, ProPublica and The Texas Tribune Co-published with The Texas Tribune October 23, 2026, 12:00 pm Four…
Read MoreTexas Students Embrace Free College Application Week in its Second Year
October 21, 2026 AUSTIN — Prospective students submitted more than 400,000 applications to Texas public colleges and universities during Free College Application Week last week, marking a 47 percent increase over the program’s inaugural year in 2025. Students who apply to college during Free College Application (FCAW) week can save up to $75 per application fee,…
Read MoreCHRISTUS Health performs first da Vinci robotic surgery in Sulphur Springs
(SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas) — CHRISTUS Health Sulphur Springs has reached a milestone in advancing surgical care with the completion of its first da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical procedure, performed by urologic oncologist Dr. Randy Vince on Oct. 20. The addition of the da Vinci surgical system allows Vince to perform advanced procedures not previously available at…
Read MoreFederal regulators crack down on organ donation groups
By Nada Hassanein, Stateline October 23, 2026 Federal regulators are cracking down on the nonprofits responsible for coordinating organ donations, aiming to begin shutting down substandard groups by early next year. New criteria will score the organizations on donation and transplantation rates and will decertify the bottom tier, meaning their contracts with the federal government…
Read MoreFEMA Approves More Than $135 Million to Help Communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas
DENTON, Texas – FEMA announced the approval of more than $135 million in funding for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. These programs empower states, local communities, tribes and territories to recover from disasters, rebuild safer and more resilient communities and protect infrastructure from future events. With this funding, President Donald…
Read MoreShopping for an ACA Plan This Year? Here’s What You Need To Know
By Julie Appleby Oct 23, 2026 Consumers who buy Affordable Care Act health insurance are going to see changes both big and small as open enrollment for 2027 coverage kicks off. These include premium increases, possible additional identity checks, potential delays in working with a broker, and new limits on which immigrants can get subsidies.…
Read MoreGOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts
By Jackie Fortiér Oct 23, 2026 U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) at a campaign event on Sept. 30, 2026, in Bakersfield, California. Valadao told the crowd the 22nd District race is “one of the toughest in the country.” (Jackie Fortiér/KFF Health News) BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Ulises Hernandez has had health coverage through Medicaid for as…
Read MoreTips for Finding a Holiday Side Gig
Looking for seasonal work? Amazon plans to hire more than 300,000 workers across its U.S. operations this holiday season, and UPS expects to add 100,000 seasonal employees. If you’re hoping to earn some extra income this season, now is the time to apply. But scammers know this is when people are actively looking for work,…
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